Both an exercise bike and a treadmill belong to the group of cardiovascular machines. But which is better - a treadmill or an exercise bike? What muscle groups are involved in the first and second version, and also what results can be achieved by working on these devices?
Treadmill
It's no secret that moderate physical activity positively affects not only the appearance, but also on human health. In order to figure out which is better - a treadmill or exercise bike, consider the features of the first option.
A treadmill is a stationary installation that consists of a moving belt. Thus, an imitation of running in one place occurs. Depending on the built-in functions of the device, the terrain for running can be modified. This can be a climb, a different speed or quality of the roadway. The greatest load when exercising on a treadmill occurs on the muscles of the calves, buttocks and thighs, indirectly running affects the muscles of the abdomen.
Imitation of running on a track, depending on speed, is considered the best option for burning calories, but you can’t get a body in relief during classes, you can only pull it up.
Pros and Cons of a Treadmill
Each device to maintain a beautiful physical form has its advantages and disadvantages. Consider the features of a stationary installation to simulate running, in order to understand what is best - a treadmill or exercise bike.
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You can change the load depending on the speed. | The increased load on the joints and spine, therefore, is not suitable for persons with a large weight. |
Calorie consumption is intense. | Dimensional design, which takes up a lot of space in the room. |
Almost all muscles are involved in the running process. | The high cost of the device. |
The result is a taut body and improved coordination of movements. | Not suitable for people who have problems with the musculoskeletal system or respiratory functions. |
Regarding safety, here the treadmill is noticeably inferior to the exercise bike. By negligence and with too high a set speed, you can fall and get off not only with bruises. In the classroom you must be extremely careful.
Exercise bike
When choosing which is better - a treadmill or exercise bike, user reviews must be taken into account. They are ambiguous. A person makes a choice not only depending on his personal preferences, but also on his general state of health.
Exercise bike is a stationary installation, in the classroom which simulates cycling. The legs and hips get the greatest load, the press is indirectly involved. The quality of weight loss and calorie loss depend on the selected speed and the degree of load on the device. An important factor when exercising on a stationary bike and obtaining obvious results is the frequency of training and their duration.
To whom is an exercise bike suitable and contraindicated?
Each device for maintaining health and beautiful physical form has its drawbacks and advantages. To figure out which is better - a treadmill or exercise bike, consider the features of the second option.
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The main load on the buttocks and hips. | Most effective for the lower body. |
Joints are not overloaded. | Low calorie consumption. |
Security. | Slow weight loss. |
Small dimensions. | It is contraindicated for people with varicose veins, since the main load goes to the legs. |
Lower price compared to the cost of a treadmill. |
The ability to read, watch TV or do something with your hands, as they are practically free in this case. |
Exercise bikes are horizontal, vertical, hybrid and portable. For the elderly or those with back problems, a horizontal installation is best.
Efficiency
Having examined the features of two devices to maintain the health and beauty of the body, we can answer the question: which is more effective - a treadmill or an exercise bike. It all depends on the results that a person wants to achieve during physical exertion on cardiovascular machines.
- The treadmill is suitable for those who want to lose weight and tighten all the muscles of the body. Weight in this case is reduced proportionally.
- Exercise bike - an excellent tool to combat the “ears” on the hips. Well suited for people with a large body weight, in addition, less stress on the heart and blood vessels.
- You will get more calories burned on the treadmill, but it is more traumatic.
- Classes on a stationary bike are considered calmer, so you can do them at any time of the day, while jogging is better in the morning.
- On an exercise bike, fat is first burned from the lower body, while on a treadmill, weight is reduced evenly throughout the body.
- The exercise bike takes up less space in the room, but recently compact and portable treadmills have also appeared, which must be taken into account when choosing.
- A treadmill makes more noise than an exercise bike, in addition, neighbors from below, regardless of the noise-insulating mat, will hear clatter.
- The price is higher on treadmills compared to devices to simulate cycling.
What muscles work when exercising on an exercise bike and treadmill?
The comparative characteristics of a treadmill or exercise bike will help you make the final decision when buying. The table shows the main points.
Treadmill | Exercise bike |
The muscles of the legs and back are involved, partially the press, the oblique muscles of the abdomen and shoulder girdle. | The calf, gluteal and quadriceps femoris are involved, indirectly press. |
Strengthens muscles, positively affects the work of the heart, blood vessels, lungs and bone tissue. |
The load on the feet. | There is no load on the feet, only on the lower leg and thighs. |
The load on the spine and joints. | Minimal stress on the joints and spine. |
Not suitable for people with a large body weight. | The best option for people with a lot of weight. |
Comparing the indicators, which is better - an exercise bike, a treadmill, an ellipsoid, many users stop at the last option, where all the muscles are involved with a minimum load. But in the pursuit of weight loss and a beautiful fit body, the treadmill has no equal.
How to train?
In order for the classes to be effective, it is important to know how to properly train on each device in order to achieve maximum results and not harm the state of health.
And before you choose an exercise bike or treadmill, it is important to know the features and rules of training.
Features of classes on a stationary bike:
- it should be comfortable to sit (for this, a comfortable seating chair for modification is selected and its height is adjusted);
- you need to pedal the whole foot, and keep your back straight;
- the pace and load is complicated gradually, not immediately.
Features treadmill classes:
- variety (depending on the chosen pace, walking or fast running, you can adjust the workout);
- functionality (depending on the functions of the device, you can change the terrain of the roadway so that the training does not seem monotonous).
During classes, regardless of the selected device, it is important to adhere to regularity, the only way to achieve results.
Popular Treadmills: An Overview
The market for sports products to maintain a beautiful physical shape is represented by many models. To determine which is better - an exercise bike against a treadmill, we will consider modifications of running machines that are available on the market, and their features.
Dender T-1007 Smart. Treadmill with minimal functionality (only 12 automatic programs), which can be folded and carried if necessary. Best suited for beginners. It is characterized by compactness, ease of operation, and the maximum running speed is 10 km / h. Among the minuses, it is possible to note the impossibility of choosing a relief for load correction and an unregulated angle of inclination, which is not suitable for people of high stature.
Clear Fit Eco ET 16 AI. A treadmill for professionals designed for long and frequent use. A great option for people who are aimed at a specific result or in preparation for the competition. This unit is large enough, heavy (weight 63 kg), but can be folded, although it even takes up a lot of space when folded. Designed for people of different physique and growth, functions can be programmed to fit the needs of a person. For a comfortable run, there is a built-in cushioning system. The maximum speed on the treadmill is 16 km / h.
Popular exercise bikes: an overview
What is better to choose - a treadmill or an exercise bike - is not always a simple solution, since in this case different nuances should be taken into account. Consider the most popular models of installations to simulate cycling.
Oxygen Peak U. A vertical model of an exercise bike that is compact. It works from batteries and is effective at various types of loading, of which there are 8 modifications. Suitable for both beginners and those who have problems with tendons or joints. The installation is affordable, equipped with an electronic display, which displays information about the speed, distance and heart rate of a person. Designed for people no more than 110 kg in weight, it is impossible to program the training, some users note the inconvenience of the seat itself.
Hasttings Wega RS4. This is a horizontal exercise bike that is suitable for people with a large body weight (up to 160 kg) and those who have back problems. The device has 24 training programs and 32 load levels, which allows not only to improve the well-being of a person, but also to effectively reduce weight. There is also a good option that estimates the percentage of fat, which can be an additional element of motivation. The weight of the simulator itself is only 57.5 kg, it does not add up and occupies a certain place in the room.
Comparison of training results
To evaluate what is best for weight loss - a treadmill or exercise bike, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the comparative characteristics of the results.
- more effective, both in the opinion of experts and in user reviews, the treadmill reduces weight, but it also has more contraindications;
- people with a lot of weight or those who have problems with the back or joints, it is better to exercise on a stationary bike.
Regardless of the simulator chosen, regularity and a gradually increasing degree of load are important here. At the same time, both when running and when riding a bicycle, all the main muscles receive a dynamic load. For an hour of training on a treadmill, you can burn up to 700 kcal in 60 minutes, while exercising on a stationary bike, these figures are slightly less. But this indicator is individual and depends on the selected intensity mode.
Reviews
They are needed in order to understand which is better - a treadmill or an exercise bike. Features reviews are solely in personal preferences and expectations from certain types of workload.
Some users note that for three weeks of daily hourly workouts (with the weekend on Sunday) on a stationary bike, you can lose up to 4 kg. At the same time, there are those who haven’t been able to throw off anything in a month of training, but buttocks and calf muscles have noticeably tightened. Many note the monotony of imitation of cycling, but this is easily solved, because in this case you can listen to music or just watch TV without interrupting classes.
Regarding treadmills, users have noted great effectiveness, especially with a sedentary lifestyle. In addition, along with losing weight, the body becomes more toned in proportion. The degree of load and running speed is adjustable, which allows you to start simply with sports walking and finish your workout with intense jogging.
Output
Making a conclusion about which exercise machine is better: a treadmill or exercise bike, it is worth starting from your preferences, desired results, health status and the presence of a certain space in the room.
And one, and the second installation, depending on the modification, takes a certain place. If the exercise bike can be folded and taken, for example, to the balcony, then the treadmill is more of a stationary installation. It may seem that the treadmill is well suited only to people with medium and low body weight and not suitable for obese people. But people with a large mass can engage in walking on a treadmill, which also contributes to weight loss and does not greatly overload the spine and joints.
Most often, when choosing, the question is precisely the price, but if you choose a multifunctional installation, then the cost of an exercise bike and a treadmill will not differ much.